FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.—The Cincinnati Bengals played to a pretty big crowd of national media and fans during their joint training camp practice with the Atlanta Falcons Monday. They’re about to draw a much bigger audience when they debut on the latest season of HBO’s Hard Knocks Tuesday night (10 p.m. ET).

The Bengals have been here before, as they were featured in the 2009 edition of the documentary series. But the cast has seen a sea change, as only 13 players from camp four years ago are on Cincinnati’s current roster.

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Gone from the sequel is one of the biggest personalities in franchise history—Chad Ochocinco. Back as Chad Johnson, we saw his last moments as an NFL player when he was cut by the Miami Dolphins in the most dramatic scene of last year’s Hard Knocks with the Miami Dolphins.

That doesn’t mean that this year’s more youthful, less flashy, more talented Bengals don’t have veteran personalities to take the spotlight. Count on the starring role to belong to Adam Jones.

It’s been five years since Jones, when he was better known as “Pacman,” provided a most memorable Hard Knocks moment himself. Then a Dallas Cowboy, Jones showed off his punt return skills by catching six balls at one time.

Off the field, there is the redemption angle with Jones, who’s shaken off his troubled past to become a strong contributor for an established playoff team.

If there’s another seasoned Bengal made to be miked up, it would be James Harrison. The outspoken former Pittsburgh Steeler should take full advantage of being uncensored on HBO.

Their coach is still Marvin Lewis, and for the first time in his tenure, the Bengals are coming off consecutive playoff berths. He considers Hard Knocks to be more of a minor inconvenience than any sort of real distraction. When the Bengals did the show in ’09, it was no distraction at all, given they went on to win the AFC North. He has great respect for the hard work HBO’s NFL Films crew puts in right along with his players.

“These guys bust their tail to do their jobs,” Lewis said. “You get to know them. They’re out there and when somebody’s moving, they’re working, following them, and they try to put a show together.

“We’ve got a football team to put together, and we’re looking forward to that.”

There are great expectations for Lewis’ budding Bengals in 2013, and those who tune into Hard Knocks for the “real” football will get a real treat in seeing some talented young players at work.